Intro: Which xbox is the best? Series X vs S
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over 20 years since the first Xbox was released. Since then, there have been 4 different generations of the Xbox released – With the most recent being the Xbox Series X & Series S consoles. Xbox has been a staple in the console wars, competing with Playstation & Nintendo to be the best gaming console on the market.
In this blog, we’re going to be comparing the Xbox Series X & Series S consoles to see which xbox is the best to buy for your needs in 2022. We’ll be comparing different aspects from loading times, backwards compatibility and even the size of the consoles to see which fits your situation best.
So, which one is the best? The series X or S? Well, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each:
Why would you upgrade to a 240hz monitor? Well, if you are a competitive gamer, then the answer is simple. A higher refresh rate means that your screen will update more frequently, and this gives you a significant advantage over your opponents. If you are not a competitive gamer, then you may still want to upgrade to a 240hz monitor for the sheer enjoyment factor. A higher refresh rate results in a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.
Now that we’ve answered the question of “why,” let’s move on to the “what.” What are the best 240hz monitors for 2022? We’ve compiled a list of our top five picks, based on features, price, and reviews.
The Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series X is the most powerful console on the market. It’s got an impressive 12 teraflops of processing power, making it ideal for gamers who want to experience the latest and greatest games in all their glory. Not to mention, it’s got a whopping one terabyte of storage space – So you can be sure to have enough room for all your games, movies, and music.
The series X was designed to play games at a higher resolution such as 4k (and theoretically can support 8k for content viewing) and can play games at a smooth 60 frames per second. Plus, with its built-in support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, you can be sure to get the best audio experience possible out of your games and movies.
Textures look fantastic on the series X, and texture pop-ins are very infrequent as the 12 teraflops is able to keep up with the most demanding of console games on the market right now. Games feel buttery smooth, and there is barely any latency even when playing the most demanding of games.
If you’re looking to play games from all of the older generations, such as the original box, the xbox 360 or the xbox one – then you might want to consider getting yourself the Series X. The included disc drive allows you to play all of your favourite old games with ease, and with the added bonus of being able to play them at a higher resolution and frame rate.
The Xbox Series S
The Xbox Series S is a more affordable alternative. It’s got slightly less processing power than the X at only four teraflops, but it’s still more than enough to handle most games with ease. Plus, it comes with 512 gigabytes of storage – So you’ll still have plenty of space for your gaming library.
The series S is designed to play games on 1080p resolution, and is able to handle all modern console games at this resolution. However, it’s not able to output games in native 1440p or higher like the Xbox Series X – But it can still up-sample these resolutions.
The major advantages the series S has over the X is its size and affordability. The Xbox Series S is 60% smaller than the Xbox Series X, making it much more convenient for those who don’t have a lot of space to spare. Not to mention it being 30%+ cheaper than the series X for those on a tighter budget, or who won’t get use of the 4k resolution the series X can put out due to not having a 4k display.
The series S does not feature a disc drive, so if you have a collection of older games you’re looking to play on newer hardware, then you may want to consider spending the extra on the series X. However, Microsoft has patented an external disc drive which may be able to allow the series S to play games from previous generations in the near future.
The Differences
There are only a few major differences between both consoles outside of internals. A lot of features and aspects are the same, feeling very familiar with both consoles. Let’s have a look at both and compare.
What’s the same:
The controllers for both consoles are identical, so you won’t have to worry about getting used to a new layout if you’re upgrading from an older Xbox. Both consoles also come with the option to purchase an external hard drive for additional storage – So if you find yourself running out of space, you can always add more later on down the road.
Loading times on both consoles are practically the same – with the series X coming out on top only marginally. The storage tech in both of these consoles is the same, however, the series X has double the amount of storage in the base model of 1TB vs the series S’s 512GB.
The major differences.
There are 4 major differences – Size, Price, Backwards Compatibility + Resolution.
- Size. There is a major size difference between the series X and series S. The series X is over double the size of the S, so if you’re short on real estate, you may want to consider going for the series S instead.
- Price. The price of the Series X is $499, while the S is $299 – So if you’re looking to save some money, the series S may be the way to go, as you can put the extra cash into the best accessories for xbox consoles or a gaming monitor for xbox.
- Backwards Compatibility. The Xbox Series X can play games from all previous Xbox generations with ease due to its included disc drive, whereas the Series S cannot. This is a benefit or a takeback depending on if you have a large collection of games already.
- Resolution. The series X has much superior resolution at 4k, but if you don’t have a 4k display, then you won’t be able to take advantage anyway. Therefore, if you have a 1080p monitor and aren’t looking to upgrade to 4k anytime soon, then the series S might just be better value.
Accessories
If you’re looking to trick out your xbox, whether it be the series X or S, then we can recommend some of the best accessories. An overview of some of our top picks which work for both consoles are:
Conclusion: Which xbox is the best box?
So, which xbox is the best? Well, it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the most powerful console on the market, then the Xbox Series X is the way to go. However, if you’re looking to save a little money, then the Xbox Series S is a great option. If you have a massive physical collection of discs from older consoles and have always wanted the chance to play them on smooth 60fps, then the series X might just take the cake. But, if you’re looking to save space or perhaps this is your first entry into the Xbox ecosystem, then the series S might just be the better option overall.
Be sure to check out our other gaming guides – such as the best 144hz monitors for gaming, or the best budget gaming PC builds of 2022
Happy gaming!
-The Esports Maps Team.
